How Long Will an All-on-4 Procedure Take?

If you have dental problems, an orthodontist might recommend the All-on-4 procedure. As a form of oral rehabilitation, this is a great way to improve the health of your mouth and give you a gorgeous smile. Instead of conventional dentures, this is a way to have a permanent fix. The more that patients learn about the All-on-4 procedure, the more excited they become.

What is the All-on-4?

For patients with extremely worn-down teeth, bad decay or compromised teeth as the result of gum disease, the All-on-4 procedure is a viable option. What this means is that all of the person’s teeth have support from four dental implants. In other words, “four” refers to the implants that support “all” the other teeth.

In most cases, the All-on-4 procedure consists of an acrylic denture built on a framework made from titanium. Although more expensive, some patients opt for dentures made of porcelain. Not only do they look more like real teeth, but they also last longer compared to acrylic. Even so, acrylic still makes a good option.

The procedure

The All-on-4 procedure entails a lot of work.

First, under either local or general anesthesia, the surgeon ensures the patient is completely comfortable

From there, they remove any remaining teeth in preparation for the implant. The surgeon will also remove any infected or diseased tissue from the gum and jaw area

The next step in the procedure is the actual implant process. For this, the surgeon inserts titanium screws into the jawbone. Usually, they insert two toward the front and two toward the back of the mouth. Together, they serve as anchors to accommodate the dentures

Once properly placed, the surgeon cleans the sites of the implants and sutures incisions

Once the surgeon completes the procedure, the patient goes to a recovery room until the anesthesia wears off

If a patient has had missing teeth for some time, the surgeon may need to perform a bone graft. That way, there is adequate bone to support the implant. For this, the patient would have the grafting done roughly four months before going through the All-on-4 procedure.

As for the length of the All-on-4 procedure, it all depends on the surgeon, the number of implants and any complications. However, most patients go to recovery in about an hour or two. The patient has a consultation, then all diagnostic procedures and the implants and teeth placed during one appointment.

Recovering from surgery

After having All-on-4 surgery done, the complete healing process takes anywhere from three to eight months. The closer a patient sticks to the instructions provided by the surgeon the quicker the recovery. Initially, patients experience slight bleeding, as well as pain or discomfort. Over the following weeks, most can return to their normal activities but without doing anything too strenuous.

Gorgeous smile

If you want a gorgeous smile, the All-on-4 dental implantation procedure might be right for you. You will need to first speak with your dentist, who will refer you to an orthodontist. If you qualify as a good candidate, you will be on your way to a beautiful new smile. With a great success rate in the last five years, this orthodontic procedure has become the preferred choice over wearing traditional dentures.

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